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USDA announced Recovery Act funds for rural internet projects

Broadband projects in rural areas are getting funds from the federal government.

Rural areas may have a harder time connecting with the rest of the country when it comes to surfing the internet.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced recently that 126 broadband projects in these areas are going to get funds to help improve connectivity. Doing so will help expand their economies while increasing needed services.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that additional broadband connectivity will help attract businesses to these areas while also improving education opportunities.

"These projects will create jobs building these networks, and the completed systems will provide a platform for rural economic growth for years to come," Vilsack said.

The funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. While improving connectivity is one goal of the funds, other community improvement grants are also being awarded.

Those funds are being used to construct facilities like hospitals and police and fire stations. Through June 30, 2010, more than $200 billion in Recovery Act funds have been awarded by the government. Meanwhile, about $85 billion have been received in that time, getting construction equipment on the move across the country.